A bill in the Legislature, H.223, would help conserve natural shorelands of Vermont’s lakes and ponds. Naturally vegetated shorelines filter out much pollution before it fouls the water, protect fish and wildlife habitat, and provide for natural floodwater management. The bill provides flexibility for landowners who want a view of the lake or a path to the water.

Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Massachusetts all have statewide shoreland protection laws, some in place for more than 20 years. I hope that we, too, can enact our own sensible statewide shoreland measures to protect our water resources.

Please let your lawmakers know you support H.223.

Mary Harbaugh

Montpelier